knott



(ModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

K. KNOTT, Jr. I Apparatus for Producing Gold for Refrigerating Purposes. No'. 234,788. Patented Nov. 23, 1880.

n. =ETERS, PHDTO-LII'HDGRl-IIER, WASHINGTON, D C.

w.(ModeL) 5 Sheets--Sheet 2.

K. KNOTT, Jr. Apparatus for Producing Gold for Refrigerating No. 234,788. Purposes. Patented Nov. 23, I880.

NrPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C.

(Model) 5 Sheets-Sheet; K. KNOTT, Jr. Apparatus for Producing Gold for Refrigerating Patented Nov. 23, 1880.

Purposes.

PETERS, PNOTO-LITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. O.

(MOdBL') 5Sheets--Sheet 4, K. KNOTT, Jr. Apparatus fer Producing 001d for Refrigerating Purposes.

Patented Nov. 23, 1880.

(ModeL) I 5 Sheets-Shet 5.

K. KNOTT, J1.

Apparatus for Producing Gold for Refrigerating Purposes. No. 234,788. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

l l l Wag/gala Jaw/ZZZ? MA @M W cgzfi N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

Nirnn TATES Artur Price.

KENNARD KNOTT, JR, OF HOLBORN, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, GREAT BRITAIN.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLD FOR REFRIGERATING PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 234,788, dated November 23, 1880,

Application filed March 4, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KENNARD KNOTI, Jr., of 323 High Holborn,in the county of Middlesex and Kingdom of Great Britain, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Gold for Refrigerating Purposes or for the Manufacture of Ice, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the production of cold in refrigerating chambers or buildings, and the means of keeping the cooled air within such chamber or building free from any moisture that might damage the articles placed therein. It can also be used for making ice.

Heretofore many plans have been adopted and very expensive apparatus constructed for the purpose, and the plan of circulating uncongealable liquid through pipes has been 60111- monly adopted, notwithstanding the great expense incurred.

Now by my invention 1 dispense altogether with the uncongealable liquid and the apparatus necessar i for working it, and thereby save a large proportion of the first cost and subsequent cost of working.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional ele' vation of the whole apparatus as fitted to a chamber of moderate size for preserving perishable articles. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a section of the pressure-regulating valve. Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a plan of one form of tank in which the refrigerating chemical or other agent expands and absorbs the heat from the air in the cooling-chamber. This is formed of two small tanks connected together by a number of small tubes, preferably set in two rows, the pipe in one row comingopposite the space in the next. The form of this tank may be considerably varied without departing from my invention, some of the modifications being shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 2, which show a hollow tank with corrugations in the bottom to increase the cooling-surface, and also in Fig. 4, Sheet 1, and Fig.8, Sheet 2, the former being a coil of piping only and the latter a series of small tanks connected by short pipes with or without unionjoints. By this arrangement the cooling-surface may be readily increased or diminished by adding a few tanks or taking away some. Figs. 18 and 19, Sheet 1, show the pipes applied to a vaulted roof, the hooks for hanging meat or other things upon coming down from the roof between the pipes. Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 3, are two views of the condenser and easing, which are shown in position at E G, Fig. 1. Figs. 11 and 12, Sheet 5, are views of a modification of this condenser, Figs. 10 and 12 being end elevations taken onlines w x and y z of Figs. 9 and 11. Fig. 13, Sheet 5, shows the general arrangement of gutters under the tank to catch the moisture which forms upon it. This arrangement of gutters is practically the same, whatever form of tank or coil be adopted. Fig. 14, Sheet 4, is a detailed view of these gutters, and Fig. 17 a slight modification of the form thereof.

A, Fig. 1, is the coolingchamber in which the articles to be preserved, cooled, or frozen are placed. This should be composed of double walls with a space between to be filled with some non-conducting material, such as charcoal.

B is the container (the precise form of this is not very important, though I prefer that shown in the drawings, as it collects the vapor from a large area and directs it toward a small one where the pipe is joined which leads it away to the tanks) for the refrigerating agent, connected by pipe B with the tank (I, which I prefer to place at the top of the chamber A. This pipe may be carried as far as practicable through the non-conductin g material between the inner and outer walls of the chamber, as shown.

D is a pump, preferably double acting, though not necessarily so, and may be worked by steam, water, manual, or any convenient attainable power, having its suction branch connected by pipe B with one end of tank 0. The discharge-branch of the pump is connected by pipe B with the condenser E, the other end of which is joined by pipe 13* to the regulating-valve F, or its equivalent, which, in its turn, is joined to the container B by pipe B thus completing the circle of piping, tank, 850.

The condenser E is surrounded by a casing or cistern, G, which is supplied with a constant stream of cold water from the exhaust from the pump-motor, if water-power be used to drive the pump, or by a pipe from any convenient source of supply. The upper surfaces of the condenser are corrugated to increase the cooling-surface, while the lower portions are left plain, so as not to impede the flow of .condensed or condensing vapor to the container. Should the corrugations be placed lengthwise this would not be of so much importance.

The pipes shown dotted and in full in the drawings represent the methods of connection either for water power or steam. Pipe D wouldbe the exhaust if water-power were used.

The container B is also surrounded with a casing, but this is filled with non-conducting material instead of water.

A reservoir or supply tank (not shown in the drawings) may also be provided where found advantageous, to contain a supply of the refrigerating agent. This supply-tank would be connected by another pipe with pipe 13 and a three-way cock inserted so that the passage between the condenser and the container could be closed and that between the supply-tank and the container opened, to let in more of the refrigerating agent, to make up for loss by leakage or otherwise, or for charging the container in the first instance. The supply-tank could, of course, be connected direct with the container, instead of with pipe B but I do not recommend this plan.

In Figs. 1 and 13 the gutters II are shown in position under tank G, the drip being taken off by means of a small pipe, I, as shown. I generally make the gutters all discharge into one cross-gutter and take the pipe I from the end of this cross-gutter; or the cross-gutter may be omitted and each gutter have a small pipe of its own. These waste-pipes should be siphoned, or they may be all joined into one large waste-pipe, which should be siphoned to keep out the external air. These gutters H, Fig. 14, Sheet 4, are a very important feature in this invention, as upon their efficiency depends the dryness of the air within the chamber, a matter of the greatest importance when it is used for preservative purposes.

I form the gutter-body of any suitable material, but prefer to employ good sound timber, one piece overlapping the other, as shown. Thejoints are all made as tight as possible, the parts being nailed, screwed, or otherwise firmly fastened together, and a little paint, tar, white lead, or the like being generally added to make the joints quite tight. Round this gutter I wrap felt, flannel, or a like non-conducting substance, so as to cover all parts except such as slant down toward the inside of the gutter, (these parts may also be covered, if desired, but the others must be,) where any moisture collecting may run down the angle formed for the purpose. The ends of the guttersmaybe stopped, (though in the alternative arrangement shown at Fig. 15 I do not generally use ends, and have put them in the drawings merely to show how they would be applied,) the joints being secured and felt or zinc laid over like the rest of the gutter. A

small piece of pipe is let into one end to take off the moisture. Along the inside faces of the gutters I place zinc or other suitable metal --such as galvanized iron which I fasten carefully down upon the felt by nailing or other convenientand suitable method. This forms a good channel for the moisture to condense on or run down. A tack of solder should be placed round the nail-heads to prevent any moisture getting through the nailholes.

In Figs. 14 and 15 a is the body of the gutter, 7) the felt or flannel, and e the zinc or iron. A cover with fiat bottom and sloping top is placed, when required, (in some forms of tanks the cover is not needed,) above the opening between each gutter. This is covered with felt, as before, and has its upper side also covered with zinc, (like the inside of the gutters,) the metal being extended downward and outward, so as to allow the moisture to drip into the gutters below. All this is clearly shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 17, as stated, is only a modification of the foregoing, and is self-explanatory; and it will be seen that in both these plans a clear course is provided for the circulation of the air,while as the drip collects only on the metal or cold surface of the tanks and gutters it can only drop into the gutters themselves and be properly carried off, instead of dropping onto the articles below, as is the case with ordinary gutters. Other modifications might be made in the form or shape of gutter employed without departing from the principle of my invention. These gutters are, of course, applicable to other refrigerating apparatus besides that here described, whether the cold be produced by the aid of chemicals or ice.

The arrangement for manufacturing ice is very similar to Fig. 1, except that the chamber contains a number of troughs or boxes, preferably laid horizontally, having their upper sides (or ends, if placed vertically) open. A small paddle-wheel is placed in each, so as to circulate the water slightly and produce better ice. These paddles are worked in any convenient manner. In the drawings, Fig. 18, Sheet 5, and Fig. 19, Sheet 3, they are worked by cords or belts from pulleys on a shaft revolving near the top of the chamber.

A pipe or pipes for conveying water to the troughs or boxes runs up between the walls of the chamber through the non-conducting material or outside the chamber altogether, and

branches extend through the inner wall of the chamber over each trough, so as to fill them easily. A cock can be fixed on the main outside the chamber for turning them all on or oil together, or each row can have its separate a The troughs are placed on a suitable top of the chamber when the apparatus is used for ice-making.

Method 0fw0rking.-This will be best understood by reference to Fig. 1. The first thing to be done when starting the apparatus for the first time, or after it has laid by for a time, is to extract the air. This I prefer to do by turning the three-way cock K, placed as near as practicable to the discharge-branch of the pump on pipe B or attached to the pump itself, so as to close the connection 'with the pipe and open one directly with the atmosphere. I then start the pump, which draws the air outof the circle of pipes, tanks, &c., and forms a more or less perfect vacuum. The cock K is then turned back and the connection between the pump D and pipe Eire-established. The refrigerating agent is then let into the container B, either from the supply-tank, if one be provided, or from a drum by means of an air-tight coupling, or in any other convenient manner. The vapor from the container B is drawn through the pipe B, leading to the coolingchamber A, and thence through the tank or coil 0, within the chamber, and pipe B to the pump D. After passingthe pump D it is forced through the pipe B condenser E, and pipe 13 to the pressure-valve F, or its equivalent, and through it and pipe 13 back to the container B. The vapor, in expanding in the tank or coil 0, absorbs the heat contained in the chamber A, and this will of course be continued so long as the supply of the refrigerating agent is kept up in the container-B and the pumpD is kept at work. It will be seen that by regulating the load upon the valve F, or the diameter of the piece of small pipe, or the area of the orifice of the cook or screw-valve, if one of these be used as a substitute for the loaded valve, the pressure within the pipes B and B and condenser E, between the pump D and valve F, may be nicely adjusted and regulated so as to obtain the best results.

If preferred, the pressure-valve I may be placed between the condenser E and pump D, so that the condenser may not have to bear the extreme pressure caused by the resistance (which may be about two atmospheres) of the valve F. I prefer, however, when practicable, the arrangement shown in the drawings, so as to bring both the pressure and cold to bear upon the vapor simultaneously.

It will be seen that, as the object of the valve F is to restrict the passage of the wholly or partially condensed vapor, and so'increase the pressure between it and the pump, the exact form of valve maybe varied, and though I prefer to use a loaded valve, as shown in the drawings, I can nevertheless accomplish the same end by means of an ordinary throttle valve, or a screw-down valve, or ordinary cock, which could be set to a certain size of orifice, or even byinsertinga short piece of pipe of smaller sectional area than the restin short, by reducing the area of the passage in any convenient manner. The stream of cold water circulating through or around the condenser abstracts the heat from the refrigerating agent passing within.

In places where a fall or other pressure of water cannot easily be obtained for circulation about the condenser I may employ a second pump, either in connection with the pump D or independent of it, to force the water through the condenser.

The refrigerating agent which I prefer to use in this apparatus is that known as anhydrous sulphurous acid, but there are many chemicals and chemical compounds which are in general use for refrigerating purposes any suitable one of which might be employed in this apparatus.

The apparatus, as above described, is adapted to most kinds of cooling purposes where a stationary chamber or room is required, such as hotels, butchers shops, hospitals, transportstores, and a variety of other useful purposes; but it is evident that the same apparatus, or in a slightly-modified form, is also applicable for use on shipboard, in railroad-cars, and the like, where the whole apparatus is carried about by the ship, car, 850. On shipboard there is usually no lack of power for driving the pump, and in steamships this may sometimes be advantageously obtained from the main engine. if the cooling-chamber or hold be placed sufficiently near the engineroom. Where the condenser is placed low enough in the vessel connections may be made with' the outside, so as to allow of the sea-water circulating through or around the condenser, one pipe pointing toward the bows of the vessel, and having a funnel-shaped mouth for the intake, and the other pointing astern for the discharge. If necessary, the discharge may be raised above the water-level, the speed of the vessel being considered sufficient to force the water through the pipes and condenser and out again. Otherwise the supplementary pump would be required to circulate the water.

In very hot latitudes the supply of water for the condenser should be kept in a tank either in the cooling-chain ber itself or in a separate chamber, through which the cold piping passes, and drawn from such tank and returned to it.

In the case of railroad-cars power for driving the pump may be obtained from one or more of the axles by means of an elastic driving-belt and pulley from the axle to the pumpshaft, or by an eccentric, or in some other convenient manner. The circulation of water through the condenser would be obtained by means of the supplemental pump from a supply-tank carried on the car itself. This would be worked from the main pump, or by a belt or eccentric, like the other. If it be not convenient to take the power from the axle, some other means of power may be employed, such as a small steam or gas engine. In the former case the car should be placed as near as pos- IIO IIS

sible to the locomotive and steam be obtained therefrom by means of a suitable hose or pipe. It sometimes happens that when the roof of the chamber is low the Whole of the available height must be left clear'for hanginglarge articles, such as sides of beef, 850., and I cannot then place the tanks or coils at the top of the chamber. In such cases I place them in the most suitable position obtainable, as at the sides or ends, and as the warmer air is then apt to remain in the center near the top, and the moisture contained in it would, if left long enough, condense 011 the beef or other articles to be preserved, I find it advisable to circulate the air in the chamber artificially.

Having now described my invention, I Wish it to he understood that what I claim, and desire to protect under the hercinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the primary KENNARD KNOTT, JR.

Witnesses:

ALFRED J. BOUL'I, WILLIAM P. MENDHAM. 

